Indoor game apparatus



Nov. 20, 1934. L} BURN 1,981,581

I NDOOR GAME APPARATUS Filed NOV. 1, 1932 Fig. 4. '4

H7 TOR/V15) all Patented Nov. 20, 1934 siren sTATEs PATENT FFlCE INDOOR GAME APPARATUS Louis Burn, Sunnybank, Morden, Surrey, England Application November 1, 1932, Serial No. 640,726 In Great Britain November 30, 1931 13 Claims.

' Means are provided whereby at any desired moment one or more rollers may be delivered from the container or alternately the chosen roller or rollers may be exposed.

The apparatus in its preferred form comprises a rotary drum into which are inserted twelve balls, say five red, four white and three black, and the drum is so mounted as to be capable of rotating by means of a handle or like means provided for the purpose. The drum contains in its periphery three pivoted plates which normally close corresponding openings in the periphery of the drum when the drum is rotated in the normal direction for mixing the balls.

If the drum is given a turn in the opposite direction these fingers will drop downwards and cause three balls to be delivered from the drum. These pivoted plates are preferably all mounted on the same shaft and are provided with guiding grooves so that when the banker or like operator gives the reverse turn to the drum three balls are caused to roll out from the drum and move along the table or the like upon which the game is played.

It will thus be seen that the apparatus provides a device for mixing a number of balls or other rollers of varying characteristics and delivering a number of balls or the like of random characteristics.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates the invention in a diagrammatic manner:

Figure 1 shows an elevation, of one form of apparatus designed for selection of three balls at a time.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the drum.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the drum in section.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of an alternative form of drum.

The drum A .is provided with a central shaft 13 supported between frames C and a handle D is provided for rotation of the drum in either direction. The periphery of the drum is provided with three openings E having round end portions slightly larger than the balls F to be used in the apparatus; these openings are in line and are normally closed by pivoted plates G which project. These pivoted plates G are mounted upon a cross shaft H and a spring J normally closes them. Each finger has a bight K to receive a ball and is so shaped when the shaft H is rocked the ball then in the bight is allowed to fall through the opening E on to a guide track L but stops the next ball from passing through. On one or both ends of the shaft H is carried a ratchet lever M with which engages a pawl N mounted upon a pivot P upon one or both of the frames C.

The pawl N is normally held in the position shown by a stop pin or like device not shown and it and the ratchet lever M are so shaped that when the handle D is rotated'clockwise the pawl N will move under the control of a spring Q and. allow the ratchet lever M to click past.

If, however, the handle is rotated anti-clockwise the lever M is engaged by the pawl N so that the shaft H rocks and carries with it the plates G thus allowing to fall on to the track L the three balls that happen to be in the bights K. Division plates R are provided to guide the balls towards h balls takes place, but if turned anti-clockwise the lowest ball will first run down the guide e, around the shaft, into the curved parts 71. and finally out as shown by the arrow.

A separate inlet door 0 is necessary in this form of apparatus and division plates similar to those previously described, are provided to cause the separate balls to move in their own tracks.

What I claim is: r

1. An indoor game apparatus comprising a container for rollers of varying characteristics, means for mixing the rollers within the container by rotating a shaft in one direction, an aperture in the wall of said container, a closure member normally closing said aperture and carriedon a spindle projecting outside, said container, a

ratchet lever carried on the projecting portion of said spindle and a pawl arranged in the path of said ratchet lever that when the container is rotated in one direction said ratchet lever clicks past said pawl and said closure member remains in being so shaped that when the container is rotated.

in one direction the rollers become mixed therein but when rotated in the opposite direction a ball is fed between the guides and finally ejected.

3. An indoor game apparatuscompri'singa container for rollers of varying characteristics, an aperture in said container, meansfor rotating. said container in either direction, a closure forsaid aperture, and ratchet means permitting said container to be. rotated in one: direction while the aperture remains closed and causing said closure to. open when. the container is rotated in the opposite direction.

4. .An indoor game apparatuscomprising acontainer. for. rollers; of varying characteristics,.means for mixing; the rollers within the container, on rotating a. shaft in one direction, and means. for automatically delivering a predetermined number of: rollers. on rotating said shaft in the opposite direction.

5. An indoor game. apparatus. comprising a contrainer for rollersof varying characteristics, means for mixing the rollers within. the container on rotating ashaft. in one. direction, and means. for automatically displaying a predetermined number of rollers on rotating said, shaft in the opposite direction. i 6,. In a game-apparatus, a container for otherwise free rollers of varying characteristics, said container having a delivery opening, means for normally closing the opening against delivery on the. rotation, of. the container in. one direction to thereby mix the rollers, and means for automatically freeing the opening for delivery of the balls on the rotation of. thecontainer in the opposite directiom,

'Z. An indoor game. apparatus. comprising a container: for rollers. of. varying. characteristics, a. plurality, of aperturesformed. in the. wall of the. container, means for closing. said. apertures while. the: parts are rotated one direction for mixing, and means for opening said. apertures at intervals, said means-being. automatically operated on rotating said parts. inthe opposite directioniand, incorporating a device for. allowing only one. ball topass througheach saidi'aperture.

8. An indoor game. apparatus comprising va container for rollers of varying characteristics, means for mixing. the rollers by rotating; said container, a plurality of. openings in. the wall ofv saidcontainer, pivoted plates positionedinside said container and normally closing said. apertures, means. for. moving. said, plates inwardly to enable aroller. topass through each said aperture,,said,plates being so shaped thatthey allow only one, roller to. pass through. each time said apertures. are opened;

9...,A-ILJindoor game apparatus comprising a container for rollers of varying characteristics,

means. for. mixing, the. rollers. by rotating said container in one direction, a plurality of openings in the wall of said container, guide plates leading one roller centrally to each said aperture, pivoted plates normally closing said apertures, means actuated by rotating said container in the opposite direction for operating said pivoted plates to enable a roller to pass through each said. aperture, said plates being so shaped that they allow only one roller to pass through each time said apertures are opened.

16-. An indoor game apparatus comprising a container for rollers of varying characteristics, means for mixing the rollers within the container by rotating a. shaft in one direction, an aperture in the wall of said container, a closure member normally closing said aperture and carried on a spindle projecting, outside said container, a ratchet lever carried on the projecting portion of said spindle, and a pawl so arranged in the path of said ratchetlever that when the container is rotated. in one direction said ratchet lever clicks pastfsaidv pawlv andsaid closure member remains in closing position but. when said container is rotated in. the. opposite direction the closure member is moved'clear of. said. aperture.

11.. An. indoor game apparatus comprising a container for rollers of. varying characteristics, means for mixing the rollers by rotating. said container, a radial guide. in. said container. extending from the periphery to. a point before the center, and a second. guide parallel. to. said firstrmentioned guide andterminating ina semicircular part concentric with. the center of the container, the guides being so shaped that. when the container is rotated inv one direction, the rollers become mixed therein but when. rotated 'in the opposite direction a ball is. between the guides and finally ejected.

12. An indoor game apparatus comprising an element container. mounted for free. rotation in either direction, a normally closeddelivery member carried by the container and serving when operated in one direction to permit delivery of the elements within the container, and means arranged. beyond the container. and maintained in. a predetermined relation thereto to actuate the. delivery member to permit element delivery from. the container, said means being Without eifect on the delivery member. in the rotation of the container inthe opposite direction, whereby under rotation in. one. direction the. elements in the container are mixedandin operation of the container in the opposite direction the elements are delivered from the container.

13.. An indoor. game. apparatus comprising a container for the reception of loose. elements, a delivery member. normally closing the. container against delivery of said elements therefrom, said member. being operative to permit delivery of the elements from the container, an operating projection carried by the member and extending beyond the container, and means interposed in thepathoitravel of'saidi'projection, said means in the movement of the container'in one direction. operating. said. projection to. move the member. relative to the container. for element delivery from the container, said means on movement of the container in the opposite. direction being displaced by the projection Without affecting the member.

. LOUIS BURN. 

